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Bayesian Checks on Cheating on Tests

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2025

Wim J. van der Linden*
Affiliation:
CTB/McGraw-Hill
Charles Lewis
Affiliation:
Fordham University
*
Correspondence should be sent to Wim J. van der Linden, CTB/McGraw-Hill, 20 Ryan Ranch Road, Monterey, CA 93940. Email: wim_vanderlinden@ctb.com

Abstract

Posterior odds of cheating on achievement tests are presented as an alternative to \documentclass[12pt]{minimal}\usepackage{amsmath}\usepackage{wasysym}\usepackage{amsfonts}\usepackage{amssymb}\usepackage{amsbsy}\usepackage{mathrsfs}\usepackage{upgreek}\setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt}\begin{document}$$p$$\end{document} values reported for statistical hypothesis testing for several of the probabilistic models in the literature on the detection of cheating. It is shown how to calculate their combinatorial expressions with the help of a reformulation of the simple recursive algorithm for the calculation of number-correct score distributions used throughout the testing industry. Using the odds avoids the arbitrary choice between statistical tests of answer copying that do and do not condition on the responses the test taker is suspected to have copied and allows the testing agency to account for existing circumstantial evidence of cheating through the specification of prior odds.

Information

Type
Original Paper
Copyright
Copyright © 2014 The Psychometric Society

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